Label: Rykodisc Released: March 11, 2003 Joe Jackson is a recent discovery for me. It’s not that I’ve just heard his music for the first time, just that I’ve only recently spent the time to get to know it and really appreciate it. In the midst of my Joe Jackson discovery, I came across 2003’s Volume 4 which finds Jackson… Read more »
Label: Late Bloomers Works Released: May 31, 2008 One look at the cover of Parasols and Pekingese leaves little doubt where the album is going. It mixes art deco style with the painted effects of a pre-linen postcard. As the cover suggests, Tippy Canoe and the Paddlemen look back to simpler, more honest times. There’s nothing new in that. Americana… Read more »
Label: Released: July 8, 2008 Totimoshi will have a hard time living down the White Stripes comparisons on Milagrosa, but at the same time leaving a description of the album at simply that is incredibly short-sighted. There’s no doubt that they’ve found that same rich, heavy groove as Jack and Meg, but from the first lead break, they start establishing… Read more »
Label: SideOneDummy Records Released: August 19, 2008 Finally, someone has married punk with Springsteen. On one hand, it seems like a daunting task and on another like something that should have been done long ago. Springsteen is, after all, one of rock’s biggest artists, racking up bazillions in album sales and selling out arenas the world over. There’s not much… Read more »
Label: Atlantic Released: May 13, 2008 You and I are about to engage in the most intimate act that a critic and a reader can share: the record review. But before the door closes behind us and I lift my shirt to reveal four stars tattooed on my chest, you need to know a secret that will color every word… Read more »
Label: Roadrunner Records Released: May 6, 2008 There is really no shortage of bands out there today who are mining the 70s for the source of its hard rock gems. The Parlor Mob is one such band. They’ve obviously spent some time with Zeppelin and the Nuge and they’ve certainly gotten quite a bit out of that. And You Were… Read more »
Label: Temporary Residence Limited Released: November 6th, 2007 You shouldn’t need this CD. After all, you should already have all of the Drift’s albums and you should definitely have them on vinyl. However, if you’ve missed either boat, the kind folks at Temporary Residence feel bad for you and have released this collection of The Drift’s non-CD tracks. For those… Read more »
Label: Padre Records (available through CDBaby.com) Released: March 1, 2007 Caleb Klauder’s band Foghorn Stringband is instantly contagious. Its authentic bluegrass instantly wraps you in its warm, genuine strings and heartfelt twang. Klauder’s Dangerous Me’s and Poisonous You’s, on the other hand, takes some time to sink in, not because it isn’t as good, but because it has more dimension… Read more »
Label: Parks and Records Released: January 2008 I’ve seen Carcrashlander compared to Randy Newman and I can’t stand Randy Newman. After listening to the debut album (and first release by green-focused Parks and Records), one of two things must be true: Either the Randy Newman comparison is inaccurate or I need to reconsider my feelings about him. Or perhaps there… Read more »
Label: Freestyle Records Released: March 24, 2008 The cover of Touch My Soul is a take-off on Small Faces’ Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. The song features Steve Marriott’s voice right out of “Afterglow (of Your Love).” But if you’re expecting Lack of Afro (aka Adam Gibbons) to be much like Small Faces, you’ve got another thing coming. Sure, “Afterglow” was… Read more »